violet's weekend with izaak and chloe

"Legit, when was the last time you had a sleepover at your place?"  I stood silently next to Clo on the subway, nervous energy buzzing around inside me.  My eyes darted around, startled anytime someone bumped into me.  It was almost like I felt pre-vulnerable, afraid that Izaak would expose part of me that I try to keep hidden, just like Toby did last weekend.

"Ummm... I think never."

"Are you fuckin' kidding me??  We've gotta do all the corny white girl shit.  Popcorn and ghost stories and talkin' about cute boys and pillow fights."  

Clo giggled politely and I studied her for a moment.  Now that I knew her secret, I could tell the toll that stress was taking on her.  Purple circles under her eyes were covered with makeup.  The stony expression she wore looked similar to my actual stoned expression.  "Nervous about having another session with Izaak?"

"It's killin' me, can't you tell?  I dunno why.  I never even get this way with Gabe."  I paused to look away and sigh. "You know, they say be careful what you wish for, and right now I wonder if maybe they're right."

"Hah, yeah, but enjoy the nervous anticipation.  It's a fun part of the game.  I don't think he's going to punish you for real."

ch20 sexy scene insert 🙈

An image of Violet laughing at me danced in my mind.  How can a hott chick like you be friend-zoned?  

Fuck it.  

more inserts

ch19

I was running on 6 energy drinks, 3 cups of coffee, and 4 hours of sleep.  Since returning from Seattle, I'd found enough pieces to connect the Pattie Cake puzzle, and was close to figuring out who it was.  It felt like I was inside one of those lame crime shows that Jason watches.  Every second of research brought me another step closer to finding out who had conned Winters.

"Why are you so rigid and uptight?"  The adrenaline overload had me more curious than normal, and Izaak didn't seem to mind.

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ch20

On our way up to his apartment, Izaak checked the mail, passing a letter to me.  I instantly recognized the handwriting from the labels on the little boxes in Sage’s desk and smiled.  Finally!

Upon arriving upstairs, I fell onto my bed and ripped the envelope open.  A penciled drawing fell out with a letter.

Hello friend!

I was just remembering our Vacation Time to France.  The HOME we stayed in with Alpha :)  He’s expecting your call.

It was really cool to see you at my place last week.  I hope you took back good memories with you.  The enclosed drawing should help it pass.

Take care,

Rosemary

I re-read the message a few times before figuring out the clues.  It seemed like she was offering me a safehouse in Vermont with her friend Ralph, a previous anonymous Hacktivist she’d known for years who now only helped people stay off the grid, who would then take me to Montreal.  The only problem was that I didn't know how to get in touch with him.

insert ch18

Glancing around I noticed her desk in the corner of the room.  It had two small drawers on top of a bigger one.  I tugged at it but it didn't budge.  Ugh.  Locked.

Sighing I dug around in my memories for any mentions of a key, or any clues to how I'd be able to open the drawer.  My heart pounded as I could hear Sage's grandmother's footsteps creaking the floor above.  

My eyes scanned the books on her bookshelf, finally stopping at *something* and *there's some kind of memory*.  It was thick with a hardback cover and looked like it hadn't been opened in years.  I tugged it out of its snug spot on the shelf, flipping the pages and trying not to sneeze from the dust cloud.  Turning to the back flap, I found the tiny silver key.  

In a hurry I jammed the key into the drawer lock and turned, relieved that it pulled open.  

Sage was so organized.  There were little boxes stacked in neat rows, each of them with a label marking the name we'd given our con.  As I was digging through, I heard more footsteps, this time heavier and faster — Sage and Violet!  

At the last second, I found the label *idk what it'll be called yet* and tore open the box.  Inside were two memory sticks and a memory card.  I pocketed them all, tossed the box back, slammed the drawer back shut, and returned the key just as a familiar voice called out.

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inserts for ch15

The days since my spanking passed in a blur.  For some reason my vibe with Izaak had been off, which prompted super obedience to avoid conflict.  And the submissive part of me also spilled into my work personality, completing tasks without having to be told a second time.  I'd set up the meeting with Winters as Gabe had ordered, thankful that I only needed to speak to his assistant and could continue denying that it was the same guy.  

Maybe if I just focus on being obedient, nothing bad will happen to me, I reminded myself as I sat amongst my spanko family at Violet and Molly’s apartment.

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“Hands on the chair,” he ordered.

The exaggerated eyeroll she gave would’ve earned me a hearty swat, but Gabe ignored it.

She flattened her palms against the seat of the chair and stuck her bottom out.  "Can't believe I'm gettin' another beating this week!"

Gabe slapped the leather paddle against the center of her bottom.  The loud CLAP! made me flinch and lean into Izaak.  My face reddened as the second swat landed and I noticed everyone watching, reminded that I was next.  With an inaudible whine, I scooted even closer to Izaak, laying my head on his upper arm.  

"And I'm sure you'll earn a few more before it's over."  His voice was stern with a hint of humor, or maybe pleasure.  More swats followed, along with Violet's grunts and protests.  

insert for ch14

Clo looked a little panicked, but kept a professional smile.  "Sergeant Douche was so pissed, I'm surprised he didn't come beat my ass with Gabe and Molly yesterday."

She blushed and reached back to rub her butt.  "He was too busy making my life awful, but I guess he still wants to talk to you at the get-together or whatever."

My eyebrows raised as I closed the laptop.  Most of what I'd set out to accomplish was finished, and some part of me felt connected with Clo, interested in the mysterious vibes she emitted.

"I'm not really sure how Toby managed to convince both Izaak and me to join this idea of his... does he do that?  Persuade people so easily?"

"Ha!  Yeah, if he didn't have a moral compass, he'd def be a con man.  What idea are you talking about?"

She blinked in confusion.  "He said that you and Gabe were on board...  God, it's going to be so awkward if I'm spanked in front of my boss.  I dunno how you do this..."  She caught herself before going off on a tangent, then explained to me the concept of community spankings.  

Part of me was turned on by the idea of having multiple spectators again.  Another part of me was humiliated that this plan was devised without my consent, and being under Gabe's protection meant that my consent really didn't matter.

"We need to form an early alliance.  Whatever we've done, no matter what it is, we'll always vote in each other's favor."  She held out her little finger.

thoughts as chloe

there's a part of me that is just what everyone else wants me to be

there's another (tiny) part of me that wants what i want. but i don't know what it is that i want because i've been too busy dealing with everyone else's desires.

there's a part of me that wants to be fully honest and vulnerable with izaak.  this part envies violet, because as tough as she appears on the exterior, she's honest and will let herself be vulnerable to the people she cares about (even if it's not often).  i'm jealous of her anger.  

there's another part of me who prefers to be with toby, because it makes more sense, it's easier, he's a good guy, it's an obvious match.  he's so direct and blunt that i'd never have to guess about how to please him.  he would try to please me.  i wouldn't have to tell him my emotions because he can read me.

when izaak wakes up...

My phone buzzed loudly, shaking between Violet and me and causing me to jump like a startled cat.  I knew who it was before I saw Izaak's photo on the screen.

"Uh oh... sergeant douche is gonna be pissed...."

The grumbling in my tummy agreed with her.  I sat there, frozen in place.

"Bro, don't plan what you're gonna say, just answer and go with the flow.  You're a pro at that, right?"  Then she tossed the phone into my hands.

Trembling I swiped it on and answered.

"Where the hell are you?" Izaak asked sternly with a sigh of relief.

"I had a lead on Violet's case and fell asleep at her place while talking to her about it last night."

"Why did you have to go over there and why didn't you tell me?"  It was hard to judge his tone and I yearned to see his face to figure out what he needed me to answer so he'd believe me.

"It was sensitive info and you'd crashed already, I didn't want to wake you.  I thought I'd be back before..." I trailed off, realizing that it probably wasn't a good idea to throw myself under the bus for sneaking out.  Could it even be called that?  How old am I even that I have to worry about this?

Izaak heaved a heavy sigh.  "Okay.  I'm glad you're okay.  It was strange when you weren't here.  I wasn't sure what happened."

"Awwww he's worried!" Violet whispered, not bothering to hide the fact that she was eavesdropping on my conversation.

"I'll... see you at home later.  I guess I won't make running group..."

"We'll discuss it this evening, kiddo."

chloe watching the blackmail video from andy

"Fuck," I muttered, burying my face in my hands at the sound of myself rattling off crimes I'd committed that I didn't even consciously remember.

"What are we gonna do?  This fucker wants his money or he's gonna..."

"You have to tell either Izaak or Gabe," Toby interjected.

"No!" I shouted, now looking at him panic-stricken.  "We're going to figure something out.  I'll get the money.  I'll save my paychecks and..."

Toby shook his head.  "And tell Izaak what?  He's going to find out anyway."

"I'll figure something out but you can't tell him about this video!"  My eyes began to pool in tears and my lower lip poked out in a plea.  

"Then I shouldn't hear anything else.  Plausible deniability."  He sighed.  "Please be careful.  Both of you."  Then walked out of the room.

chapter whatever, continued

My attention shifted to the culprit that snatched away my sleep — my cell phone vibrating furiously next to me.  Despite the pounding headache, I was able to find it and click on.

"Yo... what happened last night?  Are you alive?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing..." I whispered.

"Bro... I need to show you something... It's not good."  When I questioned her about it, she kept her response vague, demanding to know where to find me.  A few minutes later, she texted me that she was outside Toby's place.

By then his alarm had already gone off — time for running group.  Izaak would soon realize I was gone and start calling me in a panic.  The unease that settled in my tummy reminded me that there was still another two days left in our agreement, and I was going to be in big trouble for this.  Part of me felt like such a teenager.

Toby filled us in on his version of last night's events.  I'd called him in a clearly intoxicated state, unable to tell him what was wrong but he could feel the difference in my tone.  He helped Violet get home but I hadn't wanted Izaak to know, choosing instead to go with him.  I wondered aloud what happened at Dominic's from the time I blacked out until Toby arrived.

"I'm not sure we really wanna know..." Violet muttered, passing her phone to me so that I could see a text message.  

u and ur friend need 2 pay up, or this video will go viral